According to the present invention, a cushion-action applying implement comprising a gutter-like receiver, a plate spring in which a flexing portion is inserted into the gutter-like portion, the flexing portion is provided in its both sides with embedded portions in series, and an angle formed by the embedded portions is V or nearly horizontal, a switching shaft provided with a cam for pushing the flexing portion of the plate spring to change the angle formed by the embedded portions and in which an engaging portion for rotation is provided on the end thereof, a bearing of the switching shaft fixedly mounted on both ends of the gutter-like receiver, and a drive means for rotating the switching shaft is embedded in the flexing portion of the footwear bottom body, whereby the switching shaft is rotated to simply switch to the state of presence or the state of absence of cushioning.
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3. A cushion-action applying implement comprising a gutter-like receiver, a plate spring having a flexing portion is inserted into the gutter-like portion, the flexing portion being provided on both its sides with embedded portions in series, an angle formed by the embedded portions being V or nearly horizontal, a switching shaft provided with a cam for pushing the flexing portion of the plate spring to change the angle formed by the embedded portions and in which an engaging portion for rotation is provided on the end thereof, a bearing of the switching shaft fixedly mounted on both ends of the gutter-like receiver, and a drive means for rotating the switching shaft.
1. A footwear bottom characterized in that a cushion-action applying implement comprising a gutter-like receiver, a plate spring having a flexing portion inserted into the gutter-like portion, the flexing portion provided on both its sides with embedded portions in series, and an angle formed by the embedded portions being V or nearly horizontal, a switching shaft provided with a cam for pushing the flexing portion of the plate spring to change the angle formed by the embedded portions and in which an engaging portion for rotation is provided on the end thereof, a bearing of the switching shaft fixedly mounted on both ends of the gutter-like receiver, and a drive means for rotating the switching shaft embedded in a flexing portion of the footwear bottom body.
2. The footwear bottom according to
4. The cushion-action applying implement according to
5. The cushion-action applying implement according to
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The present invention relates to a footwear bottom free from feeling of fatigue used for footwears such as Japanese sandals (slippers), sandals, training shoes, shoes for rehabilitation and the like, and a cushion-action applying implement used for the former.
Various devices have been proposed heretofore, in which an elastic substance is embedded in the sole of a shoe, and walking is made easier by the repulsion action thereof.
For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10 (1998)-66604 Specification, there are proposed foams comprising synthetic rubber or urethane rubber, air cushion caused by a compression coil spring or a cave-like portion, and a construction in which an elastic substance such as a disc spring or a plate spring is embedded to apply the cushioning to the sole of a shoe, any of which however always have the cushion action and repulsion action.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a footwear bottom which enables to provide the configuration that at the time of walking, he or she steps forward from the heel, the whole bottom is then placed in contact with the ground, and afterwards, the push-up force is applied to the heel at the time of stepping forward to help movement of weight at the time of advancing, and which enables to assume the state that at the time of normal walking or at the time of putting away, the push-up force is not given, and a cushion-action applying implement used for the footwear bottom.
The present invention has been accomplished in order to solve the aforementioned object. According to a first invention of the invention, there is provided a footwear bottom characterized in that a cushion-action applying implement comprising a gutter-like receiver, a plate spring in which a flexing portion is inserted into the gutter-like portion, the flexing portion is provided in its both sides with embedded portions in series, and an angle formed by the embedded portions is V or nearly horizontal, a switching shaft provided with a cam for pushing the flexing portion of the plate spring to change the angle formed by the embedded portions and in which an engaging portion for rotation is provided on the end thereof, a bearing of the switching shaft fixedly mounted on both ends of the gutter-like receiver, and a drive means for rotating the switching shaft is embedded in the flexing portion of the footwear bottom body.
The embedded portions may be secured to the footwear bottom body, or one or both may be embedded movably.
According to a second invention, there is provided a cushion-action applying implement which is embedded, for use, in a footwear bottom comprising a gutter-like receiver, a plate spring in which a flexing portion is inserted into the gutter-like portion, the flexing portion is provided in its both sides with embedded portions in series, and an angle formed by the embedded portions is V or nearly horizontal, a switching shaft provided with a cam for pushing the flexing portion of the plate spring to change the angle formed by the embedded portions and in which an engaging portion for rotation is provided on the end thereof, a bearing of the switching shaft fixedly mounted on both ends of the gutter-like receiver, and a drive means for rotating the switching shaft.
In the first and second inventions, alternatively, the gutter-like receiver may be formed of metal or synthetic resin, an embedded fixing plate is secured to the outside thereof so that the gutter-like receiver may be secured to the footwear bottom body firmly, and the flexing portion of the plate spring may be of a reversed Ω, or a triangle or a
Reference numeral 9 denotes a switching shaft comprising a cam 10 having a sector section for pushing both inner edges 4a, 4b of the inverted Ω-shaped flexing portion 4 of the plate spring 3 to enlarge or reduce between both the inner edges and provided on the end thereof with a rotating engaging portion 11 (a minus groove in the embodiment) and a male thread portion 12, as shown in
Then, the cushion-action applying implement A is assembled in a manner that first, the flexing portion 4 of the plate spring 3 is inserted from the side into the gutter-like receiver 1, then the switching shaft 9 is inserted from the side into the flexing portion 4. The bearing 13 is put in so as to hold it from both ends of the switching shaft 9. The gutter-like receiver 1 and the bearing 13 are fixed by bonding with an adhesive or solder or welding, and thereafter the nut 14 is threadedly fitted in the male thread portion 12 of the switching shaft 9. At this time, the sector cam 10 assumes the state shown in
The cushion-action applying implement A constituted as described above enables to provide the state of applying or not applying the cushioning to the footwear bottom body B by embedding the embedded portion 7 and the embedded portion 8 on the nail tip side and the heel side, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1 and
In the footwear bottom having the present cushion-action applying implement A embedded therein, where the switching shaft 9 is rotated to position the wide side 10a above, as shown in
On the other hand, when the switching shaft 9 is rotated to position the narrow portion 10b above, the footwear bottom body B assumes a V form as shown in
Since the weight is pushed up by the repulsion force caused by the plate spring 3, there can be provided a footwear capable of sufficiently coping with walking for a long period of time without feeling of fatigue of the heel and the Achilles' tendon.
While in the first embodiment described above, one and the other of the embedded portions are embedded in the arch of the foot and heel, respectively, it is noted that they are not limited thereto, but they can be embedded in the flexing portion to which the cushion-action is applied, for example, between the nail tip portion and the arch of the foot.
Further, while in the present embodiment, the drive means for rotating the switching shaft 9 comprises the construction in which the driver engaging portion 11 is provided on the switching shaft 9, and the switching shaft 9 is fastened by the nut 14 so that the former is not rotated carelessly, it is noted that the configuration is not limited to the aforementioned construction.
Numeral 1' denotes a gutter-like receiver made of synthetic resin or metal having a fitting-in groove 16 as shown in
Numeral 91 denotes a switching shaft comprising a cam 101 having a rectangular section for pressing the bottom side portion of the triangular flexing portion 41 of the plate spring 31 and provided on one end with a male thread portion 12, as shown in
Then, the cushion-acting applying implement A1 is assembled in a manner that first, the flexing portion 41 of the plate spring 31 is inserted into the gutter-like receiver 1', the switching shaft 91 is inserted into the flexing portion 41, the bearings 131 and 132 are mounted on both ends of the switching shaft 91, after which the gutter-like receiver 1' and the bearings 131 and 132 are fixed by an adhesive, and a box nut 14' is threadedly fitted in the male thread portion 12 of the switching shaft 91 and fixed to the male thread portion 12.
In mounting the cushion-action applying implement A1 on the footwear bottom body B1, the embedded portion 81 is embedded in and secured to the heel of the footwear bottom body B1, and the embedded portion 71 is movably mounted on the shank portion of the footwear bottom body B1. In this embodiment, constitution is made so that as shown in
In applying the cushion-action, when the switching shaft 91 is rotated by 90 degrees to place a cam 101 longitudinally, the internal lower surface of the triangular flexing portion 41 supported on the upper edges on both sides of the gutter-like receiver 1' is pressed, and therefore, the embedded portion 71 is pulled into the gutter-like receiver 1', and the whole plate spring 31 assumes a V-state. As a result, the footwear bottom body B1 assumes a V-state as shown in
It is noted that in this embodiment, the reinforcing covers 16a and 16b made of hard synthetic resin having elasticity are provided between an insole 17 and the cushion-action applying implement so that the insole 17 may not rise when the cushioning is applied, and a cut 16c is provided at a support point position so that the cushioning may not be impaired.
In the second embodiment, the embedded portion 81 is bonded and secured to the footwear bottom. Alternatively, however, both the embedded portion 71 and the embedded portion 81 may be moved in the direction of the gutter-like receiver as in the third embodiment of the present invention shown in
In the fourth embodiment, constitution is made so that both the embedded portions 71 and 81 are moved. When the cam 101 is rotated to press the lower surface internally of the triangular flexing portion 41 is pressed downward, the whole plate spring 32 assumes a V-state, and the footwear bottom body B1 assumes a V-state, and the cushioning caused by the plate spring 32 is applied.
It is noted that in the gutter-like receiver 1' used in the third embodiment and the present embodiment, the inner bosom is made wide because when the cam 101 is operated, deformation of the flexing portion 41 may be carried out smoothly without being placed in contact with the inner surface of the gutter-like receiver 1'.
Even if the lengths of the embedded portions are reversed as described above, by rotating the cam 101, the angle formed between the embedded portion 71 and the embedded portion 81 is changed to be horizontal as in FIG. 24A and to be V-shape as in
In the state shown in
As will be apparent from the above-described inventions, according to the present invention, there can be provided a footwear free from feeling of fatigue in walking for a long period of time, and can be provided a footwear capable of simply switching to the state that there is no cushioning, that could have not been contemplated heretofore in the devices of this kind.
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